University of Virginia: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

University of Virginia

photohoo/Getty Images 

University of Virginia is a public research university with an acceptance rate of 24%. Due to its many strengths, the University of Virginia ranks among the top Virginia colleges, top southeastern colleges, top national public universities, and top business schools. UVA is one of the most selective public universities in the country, and the university has one of the highest graduation rates among public universities.

Considering applying to UVA? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Why the University of Virginia?

  • Location: Charlottesville, Virginia (one of the nation's best college towns)
  • Campus Features: Established over 200 years ago by Thomas Jefferson, UVA has one of the most beautiful and historic campuses in the country. Jefferson's home at Monticello is nearby.
  • Student/Faculty Ratio: 14:1
  • Athletics: The University of Virginia Cavaliers (also known as the Wahoos and Hoos) compete in the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference.
  • Highlights: One of the top public universities in the nation, UVA has strengths spanning the arts, humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields. The school is an excellent value for in-state students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, University of Virginia had an acceptance rate of 24%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 24 students were admitted, making UVA's admissions process highly competitive.

Admissions Statistics (2018-19)
Number of Applicants 40,839
Percent Admitted 24%
Percent Admitted Who Enrolled (Yield) 40%

SAT Scores and Requirements

University of Virginia requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 79% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

SAT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
ERW 670 740
Math 670 780
ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

This admissions data tells us that most of UVA's admitted students fall within the top 20% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to UVA scored between 670 and 740, while 25% scored below 670 and 25% scored above 740. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 670 and 780, while 25% scored below 670 and 25% scored above 780. If you compare SAT scores for top public universities, you'll see that only a few schools are equally selective. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1520 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at University of Virginia.

Requirements

The University of Virginia does not require the optional SAT essay section. Note that UVA participates in the scorechoice program, which means that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. SAT Subject tests are optional at UVA.

ACT Scores and Requirements

UVA requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 34% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

ACT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
English 31 35
Math 28 34
Composite 30 34

This admissions data tells us that most of UVA's admitted students fall within the top 7% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to UVA received a composite ACT score between 30 and 34, while 25% scored above 34 and 25% scored below 30.

Requirements

UVA does not require the optional ACT writing section. Unlike many universities, University of Virginia superscores ACT results; your highest subscores from multiple ACT sittings will be considered.

GPA

In 2019, the average high school GPA for incoming University of Virginia freshman was 4.32, and over 96% of incoming students had average high school GPAs of 4.0 and above. These results suggest that most successful applicants to UVA have primarily A grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

University of Virginia Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph.
University of Virginia Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph. Data courtesy of Cappex.

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to University of Virginia. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

University of Virginia has a highly competitive admissions pool with a low acceptance rate and high average GPAs and SAT/ACT scores. However, UVA has a holistic admissions process involving other factors beyond your grades and test scores. A strong application essay and glowing letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. The admissions folks will be looking for students who have challenged themselves throughout high school rather than taking easy courses. High grades in Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and Honors classes can all play an important role in the admissions process, for these classes provide a good measure of college readiness.

Even with an "A" average and strong standardized test scores, an applicant has no guarantee of admission. As the graph reveals, hidden beneath the blue and green of the graph is a lot of red. Many students with scores and grades that were on target for UVA were rejected. The opposite is also true: some students were accepted with test scores and grades a bit below the norm.

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and University of Virginia Undergraduate Admissions Office.

Format
mla apa chicago
Your Citation
Grove, Allen. "University of Virginia: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/university-of-virginia-admissions-787249. Grove, Allen. (2020, August 28). University of Virginia: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/university-of-virginia-admissions-787249 Grove, Allen. "University of Virginia: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/university-of-virginia-admissions-787249 (accessed March 29, 2024).